I have been home a week and here are some lists. Things I miss: Seeing a new place every day Having money My endless supply of hayfever pills Rain. Apparently Britain has forgotten how to do it The excuse for wearing dirty clothes Almost each and every person I met Funny accents Hearing Same Love by Macklemore up to 5 times a dayHoney, I'm home! Things I have appreciated since returning... - 'GENTS' instead of 'MENS' - Bendy roads and non-grid system...

Just got to the airport with everything packed, repacked and tied down accordingly. Bag is on the plane and farewells have been said. Now it's time to set off and see where I'm lead... Status • Ready to go. Andrew Have fun Alex! Dec 27, 2012

I am struggling to find the line between Scout Leader (Be Prepared) and backpacker (How many days can I get out of the same pair of boxers?). I am treating packing as an essay (hence I am on here procrastinating) and the first draft has waaaaaay too many words! I am so thankful to have an iPod to store books, music and games on. Erin and Rachel, thanks for your suggestions from last blog! Someone has noted that I have lots of friends named after animals, there ...

10 days till lift off leaves me excited and almost anxious. Tomorrow will be a hard day of prep involving packing, photocopying, sending letters to banks... And wrapping Christmas presents. I have just spent the day in York with my friend Kanga to retrieve my international Hock-quest brief. Namely 10 numbered envelopes to enrich my travels. I can open the first one when I enter Japan and I am very excited for that moment (I will blatantly be opening this on the ...

Things have begun to pick up now with the initialisation of my immunisations (badly timed as I had planned to give blood the next day which you can't do after Hep B because it's ALIVE!), picking a Kiwi Experience package (Sheepdog) and recieving more well appreciated travel tips. Thus I decided to get my blog on to practice and have a place to collect thought of my own but ALSO advice from friends, family and strangers in preparation. Current situation: Just...